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Chapter 7: Sleep-Related Movement Disorders

Sleep-Related Rhythmic Movement Disorder (RMD)

Sleep-Related Rhythmic Movement Disorder (RMD) involves large and stereotyped rhythmic movements, such as head banging, head rolling, rocking on the elbows and knees, rocking and/or rolling the body from side to side.83 (RMD differs from Sleep-Related Rhythmic Movements in that the latter typically do not result in sleep disruption or sleep-related injury.)

These movements involve large muscle groups and occur near sleep onset or during sleep. The condition can occur during wakefulness, however, particularly among those with intellectual developmental disorders.